http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-550917.mp3
Albany, NY – THE HOMEWORK MYTH: WHY OUR KIDS GET TOO MUCH OF
A BAD THING , PT. 2 OF 2 -
In the 1980's, a survey found that about one-third of grade school
children had homework. That figure has now jumped to two-thirds.
Not only more homework, but the time spent studying at home has
more than doubled. In his latest book, The Homework Myth: Why
Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing, Alfie Kohn says Homework
continues to be assigned...in even greater quantities...despite the
absence of evidence that it's necessary or even helpful in most cases.
TBOOK wraps up this conversation with Alfie Kohn.
Joe Donahue reports. (6:26)
**(Attention Program Directors. For more information about the above
story, go to his website: www.alfiekohn.org.)**
UNIVERSITY OF VILNIUS YIDDISH INSTITUTE -
To sustain a culture or a civilization, language is a necessity. If you
should ever visit the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, you will likely come
across its stately 16th century university. The University of Vilnius is
home to the Vilnius Yiddish Institute, the first Yiddish center of higher
learning to be established in post-holocaust Eastern Europe. The
institute is dedicated to preserving the centuries-old heritage of Yiddish
language and culture through teaching and scholarly research. Radio Netherlands, Sabina Casagrande, visited the university.
Sabina Casagrande reports from Vilnius. (7:34)
**(Attention Program Directors. For listeners who would like to read
more about the Vilnius Yiddish Institute, go to their website:
GUEST COMMENTARY: SCHOOLS AND THE HOLIDAYS -
This week's topic is apropos for the holiday season. And we're sure
this issue came up in some of your own home school districts and
communities. Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld is a Professor of Multicultural
and International Curriculum Studies at Iowa State University. He
believes schools need to start finding ways to strike more religious
equity, and provides advice on how schools can do that.
Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld comments. (3:57)